Ratchet-wrench



(No Model.)

J. E. SINCLAIR.

RATGHET WRENCH.

No. 470,954. Patented Mar. 15, 1892.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN E. SINCLAIR, OF IVORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

RATCHET-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 470,954, dated March15, 1892.

Application filed June 24, 1889.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN E. SINCLAIR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Worcester, in the county of lVoroester and State ofMassachusetts, have invented a new and useful Ratchet-WVrench, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of ratchet-wrenchesin which two pawls are used to cause rotation to the right or left hand,at pleasure.

The objects of my invention are to produce pawls of so simple outlinethat they may conveniently be cut from solid stock by the commonmilling-machine, and, secondly, a reversing-lever of such a form thatthe pawls may be thrown into and out of engagement with the rotatingpart of the wrench by an angular displacement of the lever as small aspossible. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows an elevation of thedevice; Fig. 2, a side view partly in section; and Fig. 3, a front view,the plate usually covering the pawls being removed.

A A denote the pawls, and B the reversinglever, provided with projectingwings C C. The inner edges of the pawls are provided with V-shapednotches D.

E E denote springs placed behind and acting against the free ends of thepawls to carry them into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheelG.

F denotes the stud upon which the revers ing lever is pivoted, and Hrepresents the head or solid frame-work holding the several operatingparts. The ratchet-wheel G rotates in a cavity in the head H and isprovided with teeth engaged by the free ends of pawls A A, which arepivoted at their opposite ends in sockets formed within the head. Thefree ends of the pawls are carried toward each other and into engagementwith the teeth of the ratchet-wheel by the springs E E, held in cavitiesprovided for them in the head. The stud F is placed between the centerof the ratchet-wheel G and the centers of the pivoted pawls A A, and thereversing-lever B, pivoted thereon, is provided with a circular andconcentric head I, which fills the space between the opposing edges ofthe pawls A,

Serial No. 315,444. (No model.)

and projecting from the concentric periphery of the head I are the wingsC C, placed upon opposite sides and so disposed that they will bearagainst the edges of the pawls A A, so that when the reversing-leverB isbrought into the central position shown in Fig. 3 and with the free endsof the pawls engaging the teeth of the ratchet-wheel the springs E Ewill press the pawls A A against the outer edges of the wings C C andhold the reversing-lever from rotation. The notches D D upon the inneredges of the pawls A are placed in the same plane as the axis of thereversing-lever B, so that by a slight angular movement of thereversing-lever in either direction one of the wings C will be carriedinto a notch D and the reversing-lever again become locked fromrotation. The reversing-lever will therefore be constantly subject tothe tension of either one or both of the springs E E by which it is heldin position, whether one or both of the pawls A engage the ratchet-wheelG. The tension of the springs E E is exerted to hold the reversing-leverB in position through the pawls A, and the pivoted ends of the pawls areprovided with the circular heads J J, rotating in circular sockets inthe head H and against which the wings C are brought as they enter thenotches D, thereby locking the reverse-lever from rotation by itsengagement with the pawl alone.

I am aware that double acting ratchetwrenches have been long in use. Ido not therefore claim such a combination, broadly; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

In a ratchet-Wrench, the combination of a ratchet-wheel, pawls pivotedat one end and provided with cylindrical heads at their pivoted ends andhaving notches at the peripheries of said cylindrical heads, areversinglever pivoted in the plane of said notches, wings projectingfrom said lever and bearing against the opposing edges of said pawls,and springs applied to said pawls to carry them into engagement withsaid ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.-

JOHN E. SINCLAIR.

Witnesses:

FRED. E. KNIGHT, HARRY P. DAVIS.

